Judicial assistance (legal guardianship) for adults in Greece
When an adult can no longer manage his or her affairs, Greek law provides for court-ordered judicial assistance. This article outlines when it applies and how it is obtained.
What judicial assistance is
Judicial assistance (δικαστική συμπαράσταση), regulated by Articles 1666–1694 of the Civil Code, is the protective regime for an adult who, because of a mental or intellectual disorder or a physical disability, is unable to handle his or her own affairs. It can only be ordered by a court; no private arrangement, power of attorney or family decision can place a person under judicial assistance. The competent court is the single-member court of first instance of the person’s habitual residence, sitting in non-contentious proceedings.
The forms it can take
The court determines the form and extent of the measure. Under privative judicial assistance the person is deemed unable to act for all (full) or certain (partial) legal transactions, which are carried out by the appointed assistant as legal representative. Under assistive judicial assistance the person acts in his or her own name but needs the assistant’s consent for all or certain transactions. The two forms may be combined.
Interaction with succession planning
A person under full privative judicial assistance, or whose capacity to make a will has been expressly removed, cannot make a will or an inheritance contract (Articles 1719 and 1798). A person under assistive judicial assistance may, without the assistant’s consent, enter into an advance renunciation agreement concerning his or her own future estate where he or she derives only a legal benefit from it (Article 1839). The 2026 reform also clarified that a will made after an application to lift the judicial assistance was filed is valid if the testator dies before the lifting decision becomes final (Article 1720). Where an inheritance devolves on a protected adult, it is managed by the judicial assistant unless the testator expressly entrusted it to the executor (Article 1989).
How we can help
We advise families on judicial assistance proceedings, powers of attorney and the protection of vulnerable adults with Greek assets.
Updated October 2026. This article reflects Law 5303/2026, applicable to successions opening on or after 16 September 2026, and is for general information only; it does not constitute legal advice.
* The information is accurate to the best of our knowledge as at the time of writing. We have no obligation to update it. We accept no responsibility against any third party who is not a client of the firm and has not signed the terms of our engagement.